The Houston Rockets will face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in an important trap game that could decide whether or not the Rockets make it out of the first round of the 2013 NBA Western Conference Playoffs.

Houston cannot afford to lose a game against the last placed team in the Western Conference this late in the season. The Rockets are just one game behind the Golden State Warriors and would love to move up to the sixth seed in order to face the Denver Nuggets rather than the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2013 NBA Western Conference Playoffs.

Phoenix is in last place in the Western Conference so they can expect a lottery pick in the 2013 NBA draft. The Suns still want to end this season on a high note and win, but it will be tough to match Houston’s talent with the talent on their roster. Phoenix is on a nine-game losing streak and do not want to finish the season on a losing streak.

James Harden and Jeremy Lin know the importance of winning this game, so expect them to shoot often. Omar Asik must have a good game or Houston will not win; the Suns are in last place but they will not roll over and let the Rockets win easily. They have split the two games so far this season and have two more remaining. The Rockets will win both and carry that momentum into the 2013 NBA Playoffs.